Unit 134. Verb + preposition 3. About and of

dream ABOUT ... (when you are asleep)• I dreamt about you last night. dream OF/ABOUT being something / doing something = imagine• Do you dream of/about being rich and famous?(I) wouldn't dream OF doing something = I would never do it• 'Don't tell anyone what I said.' 'No, I wouldn't dream of it.' (= I would never do it)

hear ABOUT ... = be told about something• Did you hear about what happened at the club on Saturday night?hear OF ... = know that somebody/something exists• 'Who is Tom Hart?' 'I have no idea. I've never heard of him'. (not heard from him)hear FROM ... = receive a letter, phone call or message from somebody• 'Have you heard from Jane recently?' 'Yes, she phoned a few days ago.'

think ABOUT ... and think OF ...When you think ABOUT something, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it:• I've thought about what you said and I've decided to take your advice.• 'Will you lend me the money?' 'I'll think about it.'When you think OF something, the idea comes to your mind:• He told me his name, but I can't think of it now. (not think about it)• That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that? (not think about that)We also use think of when we ask or give an opinion:• 'What did you think of the film?' 'I didn't think much of it.' (= I didn't like it much)The difference is sometimes very small and you can use of or about:• When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you. You can say think of or think about doing something (for possible future actions):• My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada. (= she is considering it)

remind somebody ABOUT ... = tell somebody not to forget• I'm glad you reminded me about the meeting. I'd completely forgotten about it.remind somebody OF ... = cause somebody to remember• This house reminds me of the one I lived in when I was a child. • Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of?

complain(TO somebody) ABOUT ... = say that you are not satisfied• We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.complain OF a pain, an illness etc. = say that you have a pain etc.• We called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.

warn somebody ABOUT a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual etc.

• I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him. (not warned of him)• Vicky warned me about the traffic. She said it would be bad.warn somebody ABOUT/OF a danger, something bad which might happen later• Scientists have warned us about/of the effects of global warming.

1 Did you hear about what happened at the party on Saturday?2 'I had a strange dream last night.' 'Did you? What did you dream _____________?'3 Our neighbours complained _____________ us _____________ the noise we made last night.4 Kevin was complaining _____________ pains in his chest, so he went to the doctor.5 I love this music. It reminds me _____________ a warm day in spring.6
He loves his job. He thinks _____________ his job all the time, he
dreams _____________ it, he talks _____________ it and I'm fed up with
hearing _____________ it.7 I tried to remember the name of the book, but I couldn't think _____________ it.8 Jackie warned me _____________ the water. She said it wasn't safe to drink.9 We warned our children _____________ the dangers of playing in the street.

1 That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?2 Bill is never satisfied. He is always ____________ something.3 I can't make a decision yet. I need time to ____________ your proposal.4 Before you go into the house, I must ____________ you ____________ the dog. He is very aggressive sometimes, so be careful.5 She's not a well-known singer. Not many people have ____________ her.6 A: You wouldn't go away without telling me, would you? B: Of course not. I wouldn't ____________ it.7 I would have forgotten my appointment if Jane hadn't ____________ me ____________ it.8 Do you see that man over there? Does he ____________ you ____________ anybody you know?

1 I've never heard of Tom Hart. Who is he?2 'Did you ___________ the accident last night?' 'Yes, Vicky told me.'3 Jill used to phone quite often, but I haven't ___________ her for a long time now.4 A: Have you ___________ a writer called William Hudson?
B: No, I don't think so. What sort of writer is he?5 Thank you for your letter. It was good to ___________ you again.6 'Do you want to ___________ our holiday?' 'Not now. Tell me later.'7 I live in a small town in the north of England. You've probably never ___________ it.

1 You look serious. What are you thinking about ?2 I like to have time to make decisions. I like to _________________ things carefully.3 I don't know what to get Sarah for her birthday. Can you _________________ anything?4 A: I've finished reading the book you lent me.
B: Have you? What did you _________________ it? Did you like it?5 We're _________________ going out for a meal this evening. Would you like to come?6 I don't really want to go out with Tom tonight. I'll have to _________________ an excuse.7
When I was offered the job, I didn't accept immediately. I went away
and _________________ it for a while. In the end I decided to take the
job.8 I don't _________________ much _________________ this coffee. It's like water.9 Carol is very homesick. She's always _________________ her family back home.